A 20-year-old music student who was diagnosed with a rare bone tumour as a teenager is set to take on this year’s Bath Two Tunnels Half Marathon on 4th June.
Becky will be running to raise money for the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Charity | Photo © RNOH
Becky Farrell is taking part in the event to raise money for the charity that gave her a second chance of life after being diagnosed with Osteofibrous Dysplasia, the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH) Charity.
Becky was just 15 when she found a lump on her right shin which turned out to be a bone tumour inside her right tibia.
She underwent an eight-hour operation at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, London, to have the tumour removed and reconstruct her tibia with a bone graft and metal implants.
She said: “The diagnosis was really scary as I was at a pivotal point in my teenage years – 16 years old – when I just wanted to be out enjoying life with my friends but instead, I was in a lot of pain with reduced mobility which at some points meant I couldn’t even walk to the bottom of my street without a walking stick. Something which knocked my confidence greatly.
“Although the recovery was not easy the specialist knowledge, facilities, and care that RNOH provided me made my time as an inpatient as comfortable as possible and allowed me to have my life back.
“This is why I want to undertake this challenge, to say thank you for all its support. In the years following my surgery with the help of the rehabilitation team at RNOH I was able to take up running and even completed a 5k race which was a huge achievement at the time.
Becky was diagnosed with Osteofibrous Dysplasia at the age of 15 | Photo © RNOH
“Unfortunately, late last year I started to get a pain in my right tibia and noticed a lump in my shin which has been diagnosed as a second tumour.
“This summer, as I graduate from university, I will be undergoing my second surgery which will put me back to square one with all my mobility progress.
“With no guarantee of how well I will recover or how long it will take I am determined to take the most of my mobility whilst I can and do something positive for the charity that has supported me through this journey.”
The charity supports the work of the RNOH, which treats patients of all ages suffering from neuromusculoskeletal conditions, including spinal cord injuries, bone cancer, scoliosis, and acute hip and knee problems.
Becky hopes to raise more than £1,000 for the charity, which recently launched its new campaign, ‘Impossible, Possible’ which aims to raise awareness.
As well as funding the overall improvements to the patient experience and clinical research, the money raised will also fund specific items such as state-of-the art imaging equipment, transforming the spinal cord injury centre’s day room and, further pioneering musculoskeletal research and ground-breaking developments.
Vicky Brady, community fundraising manager of the RNOH Charity, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Becky for her amazing efforts, hers is such an inspirational story.
“The funds raised will ensure we can continue with our life-changing support to those suffering from neuro musculoskeletal conditions, like Becky, and help them to believe they can make the impossible, possible.”
